That's why I love the Celestron StarSense system. The best I can say is that although I took two semesters of astronomy years ago in college, I still find using a telescope challenging. If you've never tried using a telescope without a smart app, it's difficult to understand the magnitude of what Celestron has done with its smartphone-enabled telescopes. Drop your phone in the holder, open the app, and it will walk you through the process. Once everything is assembled, you need to calibrate the eyepiece using a fixed object about a quarter-mile away (I used a small building). The last step in the initial setup is to attach the phone cradle mount and add the star-spotting scope, which is used mainly to calibrate the eyepiece (or if you plan to navigate manually). You don't need to use it to get great views. But if you don't know what collimation is, don't worry. If you get serious about star-watching, I would suggest getting a laser collimator. The StarSense also includes a 25-mm Plössl eyepiece (though any other eyepiece you might have should also work), a 2-inch Crayford focuser, and a collimation tool. You then position the scope using these knobs. The scope fits into the base and tightens down with two large knobs. It comes with dust covers to keep your mirrors protected when moving it around. The scope also has a handle and is much lighter and easy to carry. And it is pressboard, so it should not be stored outdoors. To move it around, there's a handle for carrying (it's a little bulky but manageable). All you have to do is put together the base, which took about 20 minutes. The base is packed like a piece of IKEA furniture, and another massive box contains the scope itself, which arrived fully assembled. It's portable because it's not too heavy, but taking it anywhere by car is going to require a good-sized vehicle. Fully assembled, the 10-inch model stands just shy of 5 feet tall. Don't let the words “10-inch” in the name fool you-that only refers to the aperture (diameter). It's important to realize that this is a big telescope. Aside from the size (which increases the light gathering power), the design is identical. One is an 8-inch scope, and the other, which I tested, is a 10-inch scope. The result is a big, powerful telescope that's not too heavy or difficult to maneuver.Ĭelestron has released two nearly identical Dobsonian models. The mount points support the weight of a larger mirror than you'll get in other designs, and it puts the balance point near the bottom of the scope, making it easy to move. The mount turns in a circle and also allows the scope to move up and down. The Dobsonian model is much larger and more powerful.Ī Dobsonian telescope is a Newtonian telescope, with what's known as a two-axis altazimuth mount. The tech here is both impressive and simple, combining the power of a star map in your phone with a mirror on the telescope to handle the navigation for you. I've previously tested and loved Celestron's StarSense Explorer DX telescope ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends), which uses the same smartphone app and cradle.
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